Liverpool Winger Stewart Downing Edges Towards Middlesbrough Return

Anfield spare part Stewart Downing wouldn’t turn his nose up at a loan return to his old club Middlesbrough according to a report.

The Press Association has reported its understanding that Downing, who has struggled for first-team chances under boss Brendan Rodgers, would not be averse to a loan move back to the Riverside Stadium.

Liverpool seem likely to attempt to offload the 28-year-old Downing, who joined the Reds in a £20million switch from Aston Villa in July last year, in January with Rodgers keen to address his lack of strike-power.

There is interest from a series of Barclays Premier League rivals in a permanent move but Downing is understood to still be determined to prove he has a long-term future on Merseyside.

In the circumstances, the player would prefer a temporary move, and his former employers would provide a tempting alternative.

Boro, who currently lie in third place in the npower Championship, were not commenting publicly on the matter today, but sources on Teesside have indicated that nothing is likely to happen ahead of Thursday’s emergency loan deadline.

A move, temporary or otherwise, to the Riverside would probably be best for all concerned. The 28 year old winger doesn’t appear to be part of Brendan Rodgers’ first team plans and the emergence of wide players Suso and Raheem Sterling have all but ended Stewart Downing’s Liverpool career before it ever got started.

However a loan move to Middlesbrough may well have to include a caveat relating to a potential sale and the North-East side would be expected to pay at least half of the £20m forked out to Aston Villa to buy Downing, is that a fee that Boro owner Steve Gibson would be willing to pay out?

Downing was a virtual ever present last term under Kenny Dalglish but thus far this term has started just one Premier League match and Rodgers probably wouldn’t stand in the England man’s way if he were keen on a move back to Middlesbrough, the side he represented for eight years prior to his move to Villa Park in the summer of 2009.